145/70R17 vs 145/65R17
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -2.3 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 145/70R17 | 145/65R17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 25.0" | 24.4" | -2.3 % |
| Sidewall | 4.00" | 3.71" | -7.1 % |
| Section width | 145 mm | 145 mm | 0.0 % |
| Circumference | 78.5" | 76.7" | -2.3 % |
| Revs per mile | 807 | 826 | +2.3 % |
| Axle height | 12.50" | 12.21" | -7.3 mm |
| Approved rim width | 4–5.5" | 4–5.5" | overlap 4–5.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 4" to 5.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 145/70R17. Fit 145/65R17 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.3 mph | -0.7 |
| 50 mph | 48.9 mph | -1.1 |
| 70 mph | 68.4 mph | -1.6 |
| 90 mph | 87.9 mph | -2.1 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,772 on the road, so it over-counts by 228. At a true 70 mph the first turns 941 times a minute, the second 963.